Takes place during sixth year. I tried to keep the characters as in-character as possible, which was kind of hard, considering this couple is as likely to happen as Pluto crashing into the sun!

The Deepest Circle of Hell

Chapter One

Remus Lupin awoke with a start. He hadn't had a nightmare like that since the night Lily and James died! He leaned against the stone wall of the- wait a minute, stone walls?! His office at Hogwarts did not have stone walls! So where was he?

The werewolf looked around for a moment, taking in his surroundings. There were shackles on the walls and there was a tattered, gray blanket beside him, and a barred door on the east side of the room. This strange, new place had a terrifying atmosphere about it that left him chilled to the bone.

"Dementors," he whispered hoarsely. There was only one place in the world that had dementors, and that was Azkaban prison.

Why am I here? His mind cried in despair. The only other emotion he could feel was confusion at the moment, so despair was to be predicted.

Suddenly, the barred door shook. Remus snapped his head up just as the door opened and Fudge walked into the room. "Lupin," He said curtly.

"Why am I here?" Remus asked, confused and scared. He didn't have any idea as to how he had gotten placed into prison in the first place, let alone, if he even committed a crime.

Fudge's head snapped up so quickly, his lime-green bowler hat almost fell off. "I assume you remember the incident involving Ms. Hermione Granger?" He asked with a dark look in his eye.

"What-" Remus started to ask, but cut off as memories replayed themselves inside his mind. "Oh, God…"

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Remus watched from the teacher's table as the second through seventh years entered the great hall; Hermione Granger among the mob of students. He scanned the crowd for the girl's two best friends, finding it highly unusual that they were not walking into the room beside each other.

He finally spotted the two of them walking together; both boys had an arm slung over their girlfriends. He remembered watching James and Lily enviously as they spoke to each other in a way that only lovers could. He remembered wanting that so badly, but he would never be able to have it, due to his lycanthropy.

The doors opened, breaking Remus out of his thoughts, and the first years entered. He would never forget the day he walked through those doors for the first time-

"God, I'm getting old," he muttered to himself, slightly depressed at recollecting his memories like he was ninety years-old!

The sorting started and he watched with rapt attention. There were three new Ravenclaws, four Hufflepuffs, four Slytherins, and five new Gryffindors.

Dumbledore then stood for the beginning of the year announcements, "Welcome! I have a few new announcements. First, as all returning students should know, that the forbidden forest is strictly off limits. Second, I am happy to announce the return of Professor R. J. Lupin!" A large applause was heard at this and Remus couldn't help but color a little at the attention. He didn't know that the students liked him that much! Even a few Slytherins applauded!

"And finally," Dumbledore began, cutting the applause off. "I'd like to wish you all a good feast, so tuck in!"

…. And they did….

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, contemplating her love life. Why did it have to mean so much to everyone? She eyed Ron and Harry with jealousy. Why couldn't anyone here treat her like that?

"Hem-hem," said a false, girlish voice from behind Hermione. The girl turned around to find her best female friend, Ginny Weasly, standing there innocently, "Oh, do I hear Professor Umbrige over there?"

Hermione smiled at her friends antics and patted the bench beside her. Ginny gladly accepted the invitation to sit and began to pile food on the plate in front of her. "So, how are the boys doing?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Alright, I guess," Ginny said, thoughtfully. "They miss you, though; their girlfriends won't let them do anything without them!"

"Well, that's not right," Hermione voiced, annoyed. "I can't believe they'd ditch me to be with them anyway!"

"Mione, you make it sound like you guys were a couple," Ginny stated, dryly. The red-head noticed her friend glance longingly at Ron and understanding dawned on her. "You still like him, then?"

Hermione sighed, "Yeah, he'll never like me like that, though."

To Hermione's surprise, Ginny burst into a fit of giggles. "What's so funny?" She cried out, confused. Ginny just continued to laugh.

"He already does like you Hermione; he's just not ready to admit it!" Ginny said. A small smile crept onto Hermione's features that soon turned into a huge grin.

"Thanks Gin, I needed that," she stated, slightly more cheerful.

"I'm glad I could be of assistance!" the red-head laughed merrily. "Here, try some of the pie…"

Ginny cringed at the lie she had just told her friend, but the girl just didn't have the heart to tell Hermione that her brother had moved on….

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The welcoming feast had finished and the prefects of each house soon led their house mates up to their common rooms. This meant that Ron was forced from his girlfriend's side and over to Hermione's, both of them being prefects and all.

"Hi," Hermione said, looking up at her friend.

"Hi," Ron responded stiffly.

There was a painfully awkward silence between the two as they led the Gryffindors to their common room. "So…." Hermione began in an attempt to crush the tension, but couldn't find the words to continue.

Ron continued to stare at the floor as though daring Hermione to speak first. She huffed angrily and refused to look at him. "Alright first years," she said a little tensely. "This is the common room entrance. Just say the password to the portrait and it will lead you straight to the common room. The password for now is porta."

As Hermione said the word, the portrait swung open to reveal a large red and gold room with large, comfortable furniture. Hermione then directed the boys through one door and the girls through the other as Ron slumped lazily into a huge, red chair.

Before Hermione even got a chance to speak to him, Harry and his girlfriend, Parvati, paraded into the room in each other's arms, making-out heatedly.

"Where's Lavender?" Ron asked immediately. Hermione suddenly felt slightly out of place at the thought of Ron and his girlfriend joining in on the snog-fest.

"She's talking to Padma about a skirt she borrowed from Parry-Poo," Harry replied, using the pet name his girlfriend so despised.

"Harry!" Parvati cried out in protest, smacking him playfully on the arm. Ron shot up from his chair and zoomed out of the common room before you could say your first name.

Hermione inwardly groaned at the thought of being alone again. She was about to walk out of the common room when Ginny's voice kept her from getting up.

"Hey Hermione, why don't you get a guy?" She asked in a curious tone. Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes as Dean came down from the boy's dorm room and put his arm protectively around Ginny's waist. Harry broke his make-out session with Parvati long enough to glare daggers into Deans back before continuing to eat his girlfriend's face off.

"I don't have time for a relationship," Hermione stated firmly. And the only guy I like has a girlfriend, she added silently to herself.

"Oh c'mon Hermione, you must be a little jealous of all those couples in Madame Puddifoot's snogging each other like the world's at its end! Or maybe the romantic-"

"I said that I'm too busy for a relationship!" Hermione nearly shrieked. There was no way that she was going to get a boyfriend for those stupid reasons! She stood up abruptly and stalked into her room without saying goodnight and fell into a fitful sleep.

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Remus walked tiredly into the great hall tiredly, having just woken up. He scanned the great hall to see only a few of the students were up, including Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and a few others that he didn't know personally.

He yawned tiredly and decided that he would have a small breakfast, since he wasn't feeling all too shiny today anyway. Remus grabbed an apple and ate quickly. Just as he had finished, Hermione stood and bolted out of the room, leaving behind a very confused looking Dean and Ginny.

"Excuse me," he said to the other staff members as he, too, rose from his seat and walked out the doors, unnoticed by everyone else.

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The next morning, Hermione sat quietly beside Ginny, eating a breakfast of pancakes and a muffin. The conversation from last night left her slightly depressed, and there was absolutely no way she was about to talk to Ginny about it, since she was busy snogging Dean anyway.

Hermione, tired of the kissing couple beside her, stood without finishing her breakfast and stalked out of the great hall.

She roamed for a little bit before the sound of running footsteps reached her ears. She turned around to see Harry running up to her, holding two pieces of paper in his hand.

"Hermione!" He cried out. "Wait up!"

The girl gave him a dry look, "I am."

Harry rolled his eyes and held out a piece of paper, "They passed out schedules right after you left," he explained. "We have all the same classes except for Divination."

Hermione smiled, "Thanks Harry," she said softly. "What do we have first?"

"Double potions," Harry said moodily, "With the Slytherins!"

"What else is new," Hermione wondered aloud. Harry chuckled a little before continuing.

"The good news is, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts right after to make up for it," He said, grinning.

"That's good," The girl stated. "I'm glad Lupin's back."

"And so am I," A deep voice said from behind Hermione. The girl whirled around to see a shabby Professor Lupin standing there, a large grin on his face.

"P-Professor Lupin," Hermione stuttered, for some reason, nervously. "I didn't see you standing there."

"Well," Lupin said, raising an eyebrow. "That would be hard to do, considering I was behind you."

Hermione blushed, feeling idiotic, and shrugged her shoulders sheepishly. Remus chuckled and Harry laughed.

"It's good to see you again, Lupin," Harry said, sincerely.

Lupin nodded his head sadly, "It's been a little hard," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "To visit Grimmauld Place since Sirius- since it happened."

Harry nodded his head sadly and Hermione looked to the floor, suddenly feeling out of place. They're still mourning, she realized as a grim silence fell over the trio.

"Well, we shouldn't be dwelling on that," Lupin said, clapping his hands together, breaking the silence with a falsely cheerful smile. "How was your summer you two?"

"Dursley-ish," Harry said with a dry look on his features, causing Hermione and Lupin to laugh merrily.

"And you, Hermione?" Lupin asked, turning to face the sixteen year-old.

Hermione smiled, "Oh, I read the most fascinating story just before the summer ended," she began enthusiastically. "It's called Pride and Prejudice. Even though I've read it approximately six times before, I still love it!"

This caused Harry to stifle violent shakes of laughter and Lupin to smile, "I've read that book before."

"You have?" Hermione asked surprised.

"Once or twice," Lupin answered simply. "Don't forget, my mother was a muggle."

Hermione nodded and smiled warmly, feeling a bubble of nervousness rise in her chest. "And did you like it?" She asked raising her eyebrows.

Lupin leaned forward slightly, "I loved it."

Hermione felt her heart give a nervous flutter as she caught his eye. What is wrong with me? She demanded. I've never felt like this around a professor, especially Professor Lupin!

Lupin gave a curt nod and brought himself up to his full height, "Good-day Harry, Hermione," he whispered as he walked away.

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Harry had no idea of what just happened between his best friend and favorite professor, but the static was obvious. He didn't know what to think of the scene, but assured himself that it wouldn't happen again. He smiled and waved to Hermione, telling her that he had something to do in the common room and left as naturally as possible, considering the thoughts running through his mind.

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Remus had no idea why he had just done that. It seemed scarily natural! I can't flirt with my students, it's pedophilic! He thought to himself angrily. He suddenly wondered how Sirius was looking at him right then. Feeling slightly scared, he walked into the nearest bathroom and splashed some water on his face.

"Don't ever do that again, Remus!" He said to his reflection in the mirror. Once he had calmed down he walked out of the bathroom and down to his office to get ready for his first class with the second years.

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Well, I personally think this was a good start to the creepiest fic I've ever written. R&R people! I won't be updating too soon, since I'm writing a better HP fic, so your reviews are my fuel to do more, faster!

Heavily Armed Goth Bunny